Department of Anaesthesiology and Operating Services, North District Hospital, Sheung Shui, Hong Kong, China.
Br J Radiol. 2013 Oct;86(1030):20130253. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20130253. Epub 2013 Aug 21.
To evaluate the feasibility of using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound to assess the anatomy of the airway.
11 young volunteers were recruited for 3D ultrasound and MRI of the airway. 3D ultrasound data were obtained from the level of the true vocal cords, cricoid cartilage and upper trachea. Multiplanar 3D ultrasound images were rendered and compared visually with corresponding MRI and cadaver anatomical sections. The anteroposterior (AP) and transverse diameter of the subglottic space and transverse diameter of the upper trachea were also measured in the 3D ultrasound and MR images and compared.
The airway anatomy was clearly delineated in the multiplanar 3D ultrasound images. It was also possible to identify the cricothyroid junction, and a simple method to measure the AP diameter of the subglottic space using this landmark is described. We were also able to accurately measure the transverse diameter of the upper trachea, but the transverse diameter of the subglottic space was overestimated using ultrasound. There was a strong correlation for the AP diameter measurement (r=0.94, p<0.05) and moderate correlation for the transverse diameter measurement (r=0.82, p=0.002) of the subglottic space, and a strong correlation for the transverse diameter measurement (r=0.91, p<0.05) of the upper trachea, in the ultrasound and MR images.
The anatomy of the adult airway can be assessed using 3D ultrasound. It can also be used to accurately measure the AP diameter of the subglottic space and the transverse diameter of the upper trachea.
This is the first report to describe the use of 3D ultrasound to evaluate the anatomy of the upper airway and accurately measure the AP diameter of the subglottic space and the transverse diameter of the upper trachea.
评估使用三维（3D）超声评估气道解剖结构的可行性。
招募 11 名年轻志愿者进行气道的 3D 超声和 MRI 检查。从真声带、环状软骨和上气管水平获取 3D 超声数据。生成多平面 3D 超声图像，并与相应的 MRI 和尸体解剖切片进行视觉比较。还在 3D 超声和 MR 图像中测量了声门下空间的前后径（AP）和横径以及上气管的横径，并进行了比较。
多平面 3D 超声图像清晰描绘了气道解剖结构。还可以识别环甲连接，描述了使用该标志测量声门下空间 AP 直径的简单方法。我们还能够准确测量上气管的横径，但超声测量的声门下空间横径被高估。超声和 MR 图像中，声门下空间的 AP 直径测量（r=0.94，p<0.05）和横径测量（r=0.82，p=0.002）具有很强的相关性，上气管的横径测量（r=0.91，p<0.05）具有中度相关性。
3D 超声可用于评估成人气道解剖结构，还可用于准确测量声门下空间的 AP 直径和上气管的横径。
这是首次报道使用 3D 超声评估上气道解剖结构并准确测量声门下空间 AP 直径和上气管横径的研究。
